Miranda Otto Shares Perspectives on Her Career, Devoted Fans, and Unexpected Gifts.

Through a thoughtful discussion, Miranda Otto opens up on topics ranging from her latest role as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and fan interactions.

Given the Chance to Become a Fish for a Day

Your latest role is the monarch of the cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; if you could be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Without hesitation, that particular fish residing near Clovelly beach – because it’s like an institution, and individuals visit specifically to spot it. I just think as remarkable that a resident aquatic creature that people actually seek out and discuss – it’s a special fish.

A Film Favorite to Return To

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be Or Not To Be. I love this picture. During my childhood, it would air on the ABC every now and again, and once I videotaped it. I just thought it was so funny. It stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny. Not long ago they were showing it at a cinema and it turned out that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we went and simply chuckled and laughed. It is a great piece of comedy and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – that wasn’t successful. But Lubitsch's version is a brilliant comedy, worth viewing often.

The Best Insight Gained Through a Co-Star

What’s the best lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

I was doing A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – now my spouse, but back then we were not together. We portrayed characters as scene partners and on opening night I stumbled – I skipped forward some dialogue in the script. I didn’t know what I’d done but I suddenly realised things were off. I recall glancing toward him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene took off again and proceeded splendidly. But I think the insight gained then was, first, consistently rely on the people you’re working with. If you don’t know where you are, by looking and look at the people you’re with, you can rediscover where you’re meant to be somehow. It’s such communal thing, acting on stage. And next, just to have a sense of fun about it. Sometimes when a mistake occurs, things can ignite in a really great way if you’re really present then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Interactions with Fans

Can you describe your most touching encounter with a fan?

It’s not a single particular interaction but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, especially female fans, I hear a lot of accounts about what Eowyn meant to them when they were growing up … things that had happened in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was some kind of help to them in those times.

What do you get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed question is invariably regarding the stew that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Did that stew taste as terrible as it looked?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and its preparation method, and do you think her skills improved now, or do you believe she really is a bad cook? People are, in my view, fascinated by the comedy of that scene. And I go into great detail describing the components that made up the concoction – as I recall what they did; such as adding pieces of colored thread to make it look like blood vessels in the meat. They went to extreme measures to make it look as bad as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Meeting

What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a famous person?

I was at a pilates class and another participant on a mat exercising, and the teacher remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark inquiring, “might you be a journalist?” Since Miranda is an unusual name and most of the time when someone’s a Miranda, they work in media. I wasn’t really identified her. And when she got up, it was Miranda Richardson. Then I was at a loss for what to say. I still had to stay and do my class, and I experienced intense awkwardness. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I am aware of who you are!” I think her talent is immense and I was simply too awestruck to say anything.

The Source of a Moniker

Articles have confidently claimed that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you clarify this once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. My mother learned via broadcast that they were opening a mall at Miranda, and the name sounded like a pleasant choice.

Chaos on Set

What’s the most chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set?

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the most chaotic set of my career, and yet the film emerged brilliantly. But the local crew operated in a distinct manner. The sense of time there is unique. Typically, you normally have a call sheet and must arrive on set punctually. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a novel approach for me. The elements were being assembled at the very last minute, and at times the plan was unclear where they were shooting or how we were going to do it. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What caused that sound that just interrupted the scene? Ah, it was the producer opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” It turned out great, but goodness, it’s a really different approach to film-making.

A Secret Talent

Do you have a secretly good at?

I naturally possess good with numbers. I memorise numbers easier than I learn dialogue often, I simply have that kind of a brain. So I believe had I not ended up in acting, I likely might have entered a field involving numbers, like mathematics or accounting.

The Best Piece of Advice Ever Received

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever received?

When I was in high school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is supremely valuable counsel, because you learn so much more from setbacks than is gained from triumph. With success, you never really understand precisely why it happened. Failure, you learn abundant.